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Origin and Etymology of power

Middle English, from Anglo-French poer, pouer, from poer to be able, from Vulgar Latin *potēre, alteration of Latin posse — more at potent

The team is considering other perks with the new technology, which is powered by the California firm VenueNext, including mobile ticketing for non-Hornets events at the Spectrum Center, and giveaways based on customer buying patterns.

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'power.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Law Dictionary

power

legal
Definition of power

2 a:authority or capacity to act that is delegated by law or constitution —often used in pl.

—commerce poweroften capitalized C&P

:the power delegated to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to regulate commerce especially among the states — see also commerce clause

—concurrent power

:a power that is held simultaneously by more than one entity;
specifically:a power delegated to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution that is also held by the states

—enumerated powers\i-ˈnü-mə-ˌrā-təd-, -ˈnyü-\

:the powers specifically named and delegated to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution — compare reserved powers in this entry

—executive power

:the power delegated to the executive of a government;
specifically:any or all of the powers delegated to the president under Article II of the U.S. Constitution

—implied power

:a power that is reasonably necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of a power expressly granted;
especially:a power that is not specifically delegated to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution but that is implied by the necessary and proper clause to be delegated for the purpose of carrying out the enumerated powers — see also McCulloch v. Maryland

—judicial power

:the power granted to the judicial branch of a government;
specifically:the power delegated to the judiciary under Article III of the U.S. Constitution

—legislative power

:the power delegated to a legislative branch of a government;
specifically:any or all of the powers delegated to Congress under Article I of the U.S. Constitution

—police power

:the power of a government to exercise reasonable control over persons and property within its jurisdiction in the interest of the general security, health, safety, morals, and welfare except where legally prohibited (as by constitutional provision)

—reserved powers

:the political powers reserved by a constitution to the exclusive jurisdiction of a specified political authority;
specifically:powers that are not expressly delegated to the federal government nor expressly prohibited to the states and are therefore left to the states under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — compare enumerated powers in this entry

—spending power

:the power granted to a government body to make expenditures;
specifically:the power delegated to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the U.S.

—taxing power

:the power granted to a government body to lay and collect taxes;
specifically:such power delegated to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution

—war powers

:the powers delegated to the executive and legislative branches of the federal government relating to the waging of war: as

a:the power delegated to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to declare war

b:the power delegated to the president under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution to serve as commander in chief of the armed forces

b:an ability, authority, or right usually conferred by one person upon another to do something that effects a change in a legal relationship;
specifically:such authority or right to affect another's interest in property (as by conveyance) — see also power of appointment, power of attorney

—collateral power

:naked power in this entry

—general power

:a power that may be exercised in favor of anyone including the donee

—implied power

:the power of one acting under an implied agency

—naked power

:a power (as a power of sale) granted to one who has no interest in the property to which the power relates (as an executor who is not a legatee or devisee) —called alsocollateral power; compare power coupled with an interest in this entry

—power appendant\-ə-ˈpen-dənt\

:a power coupled with an interest (as a grant of a lease) that the donee can exercise only out of an estate (as a life estate) that he or she holds —called alsopower appurtenant

—power coupled with an interest

:a power accompanying an interest of the donee in the property to which the power relates

—power in gross

:a naked power exercisable by the donee only in the creation of estates that will not attach to the estate the donee holds or be satisfied out of the donee's own interest

—power of acceptance

:the power of an offeree to bind an offeror to a contract by accepting the offer

—power of modification\-ˌmä-də-fə-ˈkā-shən\

:a power reserved in an instrument (as one creating a trust) to make changes by a specified method

—power of revocation

:a power usually reserved by a person in an instrument (as one creating a trust) to revoke the legal relationship that the person has created or made a possibility

—power of sale

:a power granted (as in a will, trust, or mortgage) to sell the property to which the power relates often under specified circumstances (as upon the default of a mortgage)

—power of termination

:a power of a grantor or the grantor's successors in interest to enter upon an estate that was granted upon a condition after the breach of the condition in order to terminate the granted estate and revest it in the grantor or successors in interest —called alsoright of entry, right of reentry

—special power

:a power in which the person or class of persons to whom the disposition of property under the power is to be made is expressly designated and excludes the donee or where the power is to transfer, charge, or encumber any estate less than a fee simple

—stock power

:an irrevocable power of attorney used in making a transfer of a certificate of stock